This is a message posted by BestMark:

"BestMark is recognizing those affected by the Oklahoma Tornado by donating $.05 to the American Red Cross for each shop that is self-assigned online and completed by June 24th, 2013! Join BestMark in a collective effort to support all families, friends, and individuals who have been in some way affected by the Oklahoma tornado.

You can join BestMark in supporting those who have been affected by the Oklahoma tornado by self-assigning or requesting any shop online, and completing it by June 24th, 2013. $.05 will be donated for your efforts.

*If you self-assign and complete multiple shops by June 24th, 2013, $.05 will be donated for each qualifying shop."


Am I the only one who 1. thinks 0.05 is cheap and 2. thinks this is a tacky way to capitalize on a tragic event? Maybe I am too jaded. Why don't they just donate a few hundred (or thousand) dollars to a charity if they want to help?

I have to say, I agree with you. This is worse than the usual desperate EOM emails begging shoppers to pick up assignments. They should just make a donation outright. I love working with the company, but this was a poor choice on their side.

I applaud Bestmark for stepping up to do something. 5 cents per shop, it might be considered cheap by some; 10,000 shops would mean a $500 donation. On the other hand, if the roughly 200 MSC's on the approved list were to each do 5 cents per shop, and they averaged 10k shops, then you'd have $500 x 200 MSC's, or $100,000.

The thing is, we don't know what Bestmark's operating margin is, what their profit per shop is. Personally, I can think of charities other than the Red Cross where a higher % of each donation goes to the victims. I don't see it as capitalizing on the event.

I don't shop for Bestmark but I don't disapprove. If they were asking for a shopper contribution, I would think it was tacky. But it appears they plan to donate the 5 cents from their own pocket for each shop completed. They are self-promoting a little here but I'm not offended by it. Am I understanding correctly: they are not requesting a shopper donation here, only advertising their own donation?

Let me give you a comparison that I DID find tacky. First off, let me say that I LOVE A Closer Look. I like their shops. I find them easy to work with. They pay like clockwork. They are very supportive of their shoppers. Having said that, I almost stopped accepting their shops a few years ago because I was so offended by their constant solicitation of shopper funds for their charities, many of which were ACL employees selected because they had personal financial problems due to illness, etc. I found it totally tacky.

A few years ago it seemed like every time I logged in, the ACL main page promoted their current charity with the promise that if shoppers chose to contribute, ACL would match the contribution. I thought it was poor taste. It got worse - each time I completed a report, before allowing me to submit, the system would "remind" me of ACL's current charity recipient and of ACL's commitment to match any contribution shoppers made and would ask if I wanted to contribute a portion of my "earnings." Earnings? All their jobs, at least the ones I take, are reimbursement only, so what earnings might I contribute from? I was doing their casual TexMex at $35 reimbursement and their fast taco at $25 reimbursement, both of which I usually pull at least $5 out my my pocket (no complaint, my choice, it's a cheap eat-out at a place I like). But also make a contribution to an ACL employee? Hmmmmm....... If I am going to contribute to a charity, I prefer to select my own. They appear to have stopped doing that so I like them better.

So, basically, I'm okay with any MSC that wants to select a charity recipient. I'm okay with them donating as much or as little of their money as they choose. I'm okay with them getting a little self-promotion advertisement out of their donation. I'm NOT okay with them asking me to donate MY money to THEIR charities. I can very well select my own charities and determine when and how I want to donate.

We are sorry that some of you feel negatively about BestMark's effort in the relief. Although $.05 per shop may seem like a small amount, it adds up to thousands of dollars when any of our 200,000+ shoppers sign up for shops, audits, exit interviews, and other assignments over a month's time. To clarify, we are donating $.05 for each shop completion and not subtracting it from each shop’s pay. Your actions will have a direct impact on the amount donated to the relief effort, but your shopper pay will not be affected and we are not asking you to make a contribution. BestMark will be making the donation based on the collective actions of shoppers, and for that, we thank you.

BestMark regularly donates to charities in our own community, and we do what we can to contribute a positive influence, especially for those in need. Because we cannot physically be in Oklahoma to aid in the relief efforts, we are supporting our friends, shoppers, clients, and family members who have been affected by this tragedy with monetary donations from afar.

If you have questions, please email shops@bestmark.com.

Thank you for your time,
BestMark, Inc.
1-800-969-8477
shops@bestmark.com

If BestMark is paying without taking it from the shoppers I think it's great. They are a large company with all there shops .05 will make a difference. It may not seem like much just say .05 per shop, but in the end it will be. If all MSC would help just think how much money would be generated for the people in need.

I do shop for Bestmark and I believe that they are doing positive thing. $500 or $10000, they are just numbers but just thinking about those victims and doing such a thing…From me it’s a HIGH FIVE!

Would have seemed classier if Bestmark just donated the funds without having the shoppers need to "preform".


Can't buy class.....

I agree with Irene. It would be a class act if they simply did a donation. The method they era using is self promotion...

So Bestmark is trying to say they have over 200,000 shops a month. I somehow doubt that. Yes they probably have 200,000 shoppers in the data base but a little misleading unless you actually have 200,00 shops this month....


BestMark_Inc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We are sorry that some of you feel negatively
> about BestMark's effort in the relief. Although
> $.05 per shop may seem like a small amount, it
> adds up to thousands of dollars when any of our
> 200,000+ shoppers sign up for shops, audits, exit
> interviews, and other assignments over a month's
> time. To clarify, we are donating $.05 for each
> shop completion and not subtracting it from each
> shop’s pay. Your actions will have a direct
> impact on the amount donated to the relief effort,
> but your shopper pay will not be affected and we
> are not asking you to make a contribution.
> BestMark will be making the donation based on the
> collective actions of shoppers, and for that, we
> thank you.
>
> BestMark regularly donates to charities in our own
> community, and we do what we can to contribute a
> positive influence, especially for those in need.
> Because we cannot physically be in Oklahoma to aid
> in the relief efforts, we are supporting our
> friends, shoppers, clients, and family members who
> have been affected by this tragedy with monetary
> donations from afar.
>
> If you have questions, please email
> shops@bestmark.com.
>
> Thank you for your time,
> BestMark, Inc.
> 1-800-969-8477
> shops@bestmark.com

CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So Bestmark is trying to say they have over
> 200,000 shops a month. I somehow doubt that. Yes
> they probably have 200,000 shoppers in the data
> base but a little misleading unless you actually
> have 200,00 shops this month....
>

I have mixed feelings about what Bestmark is doing but I don't think Bestmark is saying it has 200,000 shops a month.

> BestMark_Inc Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > We are sorry that some of you feel negatively
> > about BestMark's effort in the relief.
> Although
> > $.05 per shop may seem like a small amount, it
> > adds up to thousands of dollars when any of our
> > 200,000+ shoppers sign up for shops, audits,
> exit
> > interviews, and other assignments over a
> month's
> > time.

$0.05/shop x 200,000 shops = $10,000.

Bestmark said "thousands of dollars," not "ten thousand dollars."

The minimum amount that fits the phrase "thousands of dollars," in my opinion, is $2,000.

$2,000 / [$0.05/shop] = 40,000 shops.

5 cents can turn into a lot of money, when thousands of shoppers complete their shops. It may seem to be a small amount, but it will turn out to be a large sum in the end. And, it's better than nothing. My opinion here.

I would happier if it was going to another organization but I do like that they are at least doing SOMETHING! Every little bit helps.

I sure can't fault them. At least they're making an effort and doing something positive.

I'm curious, what is the problem with the Red Cross? They seem to be the first organization able to mobilize after a disaster and I have heard almost all good things about them.

I am from Oklahoma, and not too far from Moore, or the tornadoes that hit tonight (in fact my parent's barely missed it). I think any company that donates is a good thing. Those who aren't in "tornado alley" and haven't experienced a tornado have no idea what it's like. It is awful. We fortunately have an underground shelter, which we were in tonight, but a lot of folks don't. We could lose our house any day of the week. I applaud them for doing something, I haven't heard of any other MSC offering anything.

Those underground shelters are such lifesavers. Around here the early warning systems combined with the prevalence of basements have helped us tremendously. We have made it through several tornadoes without a loss of life.

Riki Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is a message posted by BestMark:
>
> "BestMark is recognizing those affected by the
> Oklahoma Tornado by donating $.05 to the American
> Red Cross for each shop that is self-assigned
> online and completed by June 24th, 2013! Join
> BestMark in a collective effort to support all
> families, friends, and individuals who have been
> in some way affected by the Oklahoma tornado.
>
> You can join BestMark in supporting those who have
> been affected by the Oklahoma tornado by
> self-assigning or requesting any shop online, and
> completing it by June 24th, 2013. $.05 will be
> donated for your efforts.
>
> *If you self-assign and complete multiple shops by
> June 24th, 2013, $.05 will be donated for each
> qualifying shop."
>
>
> Am I the only one who 1. thinks 0.05 is cheap and
> 2. thinks this is a tacky way to capitalize on a
> tragic event? Maybe I am too jaded. Why don't
> they just donate a few hundred (or thousand)
> dollars to a charity if they want to help?


So, how much have you given?

My problem is what we experienced with them and their overhead. I think there are a lot of other companies that donate much more of their annual percentage. Every little bit helps and I am glad they do something but I think there are better ways to donate and help families in crisis. I am a big advocate for local charities that really make a difference when families have lost everything. They are truly devastated and the last thing they need are people that are not compassionate. That is what happened in Granbury here recently. I am sure that isn't the case always but after what some of our local families dealt with, I will no longer support the organization. Just as with all large companies, there are mixed reviews. I am sure there are some amazing people that work there and truly care. Unfortunately, our community didn't get that experience. If ever there is a time when your community has something devastating happen, you realize just how much your local law enforcement, firefighters, and community do.

Lisa, I truly applaud the Red Cross for all they do. Having said that, if you do not specify what your donation is to be used for, then it goes to their general fund where a percentage will be used to cover their operating cost of approximately $264 million with Program Expenses [money to give away] of approximately $3.1 Billion [Source: Charity Navigator]. Roughly 8% of each dollar given to the Red Cross goes to operating costs, and that's not a bad percentage. Having said that, Salvation Army and Masonic Service Association both have 100% of donations going to victims.

Having said that, it's been a few months since I've done a significant number of shops for Bestmark. I will be looking at their job board a bit closer for the next few weeks.

And please don't take this as I'm knocking charitable giving because I'm not. Living on the Southeast Coast [less than 2 miles from the ocean], the next 6-months are a time to keep an eye on the tropics.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm curious, what is the problem with the Red
> Cross? They seem to be the first organization able
> to mobilize after a disaster and I have heard
> almost all good things about them.

Thanks for providing the research. I didn't have the time and was wondering about their percentages.

It is better than 0.00!

Tacky was my initial reaction, but after a few moments of reflection, I guess anything is better than nothing (which is what many companies will do).

Riki, are you criticizing the nickel contribution, or are you criticizing their tying the contribution to the amount of shops done during a time frame? If all the shoppers in the USA said they were going to give a nickel per shop during the same time frame, would you criticize that effort as tacky or would you say well done? Would you suggest each shopper should contribute a dime or a quarter or a dollar, or that we should each contribute 50% of our monthly income? When the offering plate goes down the pew, should we criticize our neighbors if we think their contribution is too small? I don't think it's wrong for a business to make a contribution and expect to get some recognition for making that contribution, whereas it would be in better taste for an individual not to make mention of personal giving. I do think it's thoughtless and ungrateful to criticize the amount of anyone's contribution.

Sooooooooooo...BestMark obviously reads this forums and current threads...

I applaud Bestmark for making a contribution! I have a question for the person complaining about the amount, "Have you made a personal contribution?" When I first started shopping, Bestmark was one of the companies I worked with. I made a mistake and was berated by the scheduler! I replied sarcastically, then removed myself as a shopper. I thought negatively about Bestmark, but have since realized that was action of one person and I should have reported her rather than stoop to her level and resign. She actually called me and left a scathing message all because I went a day early! Regardless, now I wish I had continued with Bestmark because it is a company who gets involved --not a person who complains about the amount donated!

Terri, you could always try contacting them and explaining what you just shared with us if you want to try to get reinstated. Personally, I think you're better off as they have punitive practices like docking pay that I don't agree with. But that's your decision.

Regardless of my feelings as a shopper about BestMark, I think it's great when any person or entity tries to do something for others.

We are back in hurricane season again, and praying we won't see another Sandy--or God forbid, worse. People don't realize that Sandy was barely a Category 1 storm. Anything worse would probably wipe Long Island right off the map.

As far as BestMark, I think what they are doing is very generous. I'm just wary of the Red Cross, which still owes us a lot of money collected for Hurricane Sandy.

Robinv

I say, "God Bless Bestmark!" At least they are doing something!!! How many of you reached into your pockets to help? I live in Texas, and last week my church took a separate collection for the people of Moore - why is that any different than what BestMark is doing? Oh, and my town of Granbury, TX had 100 homes destroyed and several people killed, not nearly as big as Moore even, we only have 6000 people... BestMark is doing something good, just like the Albertson store in Fort Worth, TX that I went into that asked me to put my change in a jug to help the people of Granbury, or the Staples store that did the same thing!!! Every penny helps!! Thankfully, my home in Granbury was not damaged or destroyed, but I personally saw the people that lost everything, it was very sad! I take care of a father with Alzeheimers and a mother with cancer, both in their 80's, and I currently make my living mystery shopping, and I managed to pull out a few bucks that I really couldn't afford, to help those in Moore and Granbury, so I personally applaud BestMark! Thank you - Nickels, quarters or dollars - it all adds up when you are helping someone who lost everything and doesn't know what to do next!! Thank You BestMark!!!

Think how much might be collected if EVERY MSC offered 5 cents per shop completed. And maybe the MSCs that offer one chance to win a $25 prize for every shop a shopper takes could donate the $25 instead of paying it out to a shopper. OR, they could offer to donate the $25 in the name of the winning shopper.

There would be so many possibilities if some of the other MSCs want to step up.